It is no longer news that the US government has been looking for ways to reduce the Visa Fees the Nigerian government charges its citizens to get a Visa to Nigeria. Since early 2018,it was reported that the US government had engaged the Nigerian government to review the Visa Fees on various categories of Visa which it charges its citizens.
After 18 months of reveiw and consultations between the US government and the Nigerian government,nothing has changed with Nigerian Visa fees structure for US Citizen applicant. This has led to the US Department of State to enact new Visa Reciprocity fees for Nigerian Citizens wishing to travel to the US.
In other words Categories of Visa fees for Nigerians to travel to the US will be increased effective worldwide on 29th August. Nigerian Citizens will be required to pay Visa issuance fees or reciprocity fee for all approved applications for non immigrant Visas in categories such as B,F,H1B,I,L and R.
The reciprocity fee will be charged in addition to the non immigrant application fee.Both fees are non refundable and the amounts vary on Visa classifications.US laws requires that US visa fees and validity periods be based on the treatment they get from their foreign counterparts.
The total cost for a US citizen to obtain a Visa to Nigeria is currently higher than that of a Nigerian citizen who wishes to obtain a Visa to the United States. According to the US Dept of State,the new reciprocity fee for Nigerian citizens is to eliminate that cost difference.
The reciprocity fee will be required by all Nigerians irrespective of where they are applying from for a non immigrant visa. The reciprocity fee is required for each Visa that is approved, that means both Adults and Minors whose Visa applications are approved are required to pay the reciprocity fee.
According to the tweet by the US Mission Nigeria.the reciprocity fee will be paid at the embassy.
